In one embodiment, described herein is an apparatus for projecting linear illumination fanned out along the slow axis of a laser source array. In addition to the laser source array, the apparatus can include a number of fast axis collimators (FACs) to collimate the laser beams from the laser source array along the fast axis, a cylinder lens array for converting the collimated laser beams to parallel laser beams, and a prism array pair for reducing the pitch of the parallel laser beams. The system further includes a first cylinder lens for focusing the laser beams from the prism array pair onto a MEMS mirror, which redirects the laser beams as a linear laser beam towards a predetermined direction.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the prism array pair includes a first prism array and a second prism array that are separated by a spacing, wherein the spacing is based on a reduction of the pitch of the laser beams from the laser source array.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first prism array includes a plurality of sub-prisms, and is shaped as a plano-convex prism, with a flat surface facing the cylinder lens array to receive the collimated and parallel laser beams from the cylinder lens array.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the iris is positioned between the shutter and the MEMS mirror to block scattered light that the shutter fails to block.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the laser source array includes a plurality of laser sources, wherein each laser source includes a plurality of laser diodes, and is driven by a same voltage, or a different voltage.
12. The LiDAR device of claim 11, wherein the prism array pair includes a first prism array and a second prism array that are separated by a spacing, wherein the spacing is based on a reduction of the pitch of the laser beams from the laser source array.
13. The LiDAR device of claim 12, wherein the first prism array of the prism array pair includes a plurality of sub-prisms, and is shaped as a plano-convex prism, with a flat surface facing the cylinder lens array to receive the collimated and parallel laser beams from the cylinder lens array.
15. The LIDAR device of claim 14, wherein the iris is positioned between the shutter and the MEMS mirror to block scattered light that the shutter fails to block.
16. The LiDAR device of claim 9, wherein the laser source array includes a plurality of laser sources, wherein each laser source includes a plurality of laser diodes, and is driven by a same voltage, or a different voltage.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the laser source array includes a plurality of laser sources, each laser source including a plurality of laser diodes packaged together, wherein each laser source is coupled with a fast axis collimator (FAC), which is to collimate a laser beam from the laser source along a fast axis.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein a cylinder lens array positioned between the plurality of FACs and the prism array pair is configured to convert the collimated laser beam from each laser source into a parallel laser beam along a slow axis.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the prism array pair includes a first prism array and a second prism array that are separated by a spacing, wherein the spacing is based on a reduction of the pitch of the laser beams from the laser source array.
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September 23, 2020
February 20, 2024
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